Saturday sees a tricky tie in the first round of the Alec Smith Premier Division Cup as holders Clapton have been drawn away to runners-up Kensington.

Last season’s final was a dramatic affair that CCFC won on penalties after a superb comeback from 2-0 down to 2-2.

The winner will be away in the quarter-final against either AVA vs PFC Victoria London.

Clapton come into the game off the back of a solid 1-4 away win against Cricklewood Wanderers and will be glad for more game time following a string of cancellations and postponements.

Kensington are bottom of the league at the moment because they have played just two games – a narrow loss to leaders Indian Gymkhana and a 3-3 goalfest against unbeaten Larkspur Rovers. They have at least two, and up to four, games in hand on the rest of the division so it’s very much a false position after a tough fixture list.

Their top scorer from last season, Donnell Mensah, has moved on to Step 6 side Spartans Youth, so Clapton fans will have to wait and see who the sharpest-toothed dragon is this season

We reached out to dragons for a comment ahead of the tie; “You think you can deceive me, Barrel-Rider? You have come from Lake Town! This is some sort of scheme hatched between these filthy dwarves and those miserable tub-trading Lakemen” a dragon replied.

Kensington Dragons started in 2001 with local children and parents having a regular kick around in the Kensington Memorial Park.

The youngsters wanted to play regular football matches and after hard work from parents and players, Kensington Dragons was formed.

The club has expanded over the years to now have eight boys’ teams, five girls’ teams and three men’s teams.
It is a registered charity and run by the trustees and a committee made up of club officers, managers and coaches.

The charity’s objects are “to promote community participation of, primarily, children and young people regardless of race, sex, creed, financial means or social and economic circumstances.”

Their home ground is Linford Christie Stadium, the athletics ground at Wormwood Scrubs, right by the prison.

Some CCFC fans may remember it as being next to where we played Hereford Palace in Division One in 2018/19 on the way to promotion.

Championship side Queen’s Park Rangers have lodged plans to move there and turn it into a 30,000 capacity stadium.

Match information

Kensington Dragons vs Clapton CFC is at 2pm on Saturday, October 1st at Linford Christie Stadium, Artillery Lane, off Du Cane Road W12 0DF

Entry is free. There is no bar or clubhouse open so bring your own food/drink.

We’re not yet sure if the match will take place on one of the outlying pitches or the stadium itself. More info as we have it via social media.

Travel wise, it is one of the easiest away grounds to get to from East London. It’s a 12-minute walk from East Acton in Zone 2 on the Central Line, or 25 minutes from Wood Lane on both the Hammersmith and City and Circle lines.

The Alec Smith Premier Cup

The winner will be away in the quarter-final at the winners of the AVA vs PFC Victoria London tie.

The winners of that game will be at home in the semi-final against one of Camden United or C.B. Hounslow United Reserves or Cricklewood Wanderers or Eagles Land.

First round draw

01 Indian Gymkhana Club vs OIR
02 Camden United vs C.B. Hounslow United Reserves
03 Cricklewood Wanderers vs Eagles Land
04 Brentham vs Stonewall – away walkover
05 Pitshanger Dynamo vs Shepherds Bush
06 Kensington Dragons vs Clapton Community
07 Kodak (Harrow) vs Larkspur Rovers
08 AVA vs PFC Victoria London

Quarter-final draw

09 AVA or PFC Victoria London vs Kensington Dragons or Clapton Community
10 Pitshanger Dynamo or Shepherds Bush vs Kodak (Harrow) or Larkspur Rovers
11 Indian Gymkhana Club or OIR vs Stonewall
12 Camden United or C.B. Hounslow United Reserves vs Cricklewood Wanderers or Eagles Land

Semi-final draw

13 AVA or PFC Victoria London or Kensington Dragons or Clapton Community vs Camden United or C.B. Hounslow United Reserves or Cricklewood Wanderers or Eagles Land
14 Pitshanger Dynamo or Shepherds Bush or Kodak (Harrow) or Larkspur Rovers vs Indian Gymkhana Club or OIR or Stonewall

Final draw

15 AVA or PFC Victoria London or Kensington Dragons or Clapton Community or Camden United or C.B. Hounslow United Reserves or Cricklewood Wanderers or Eagles Land vs Pitshanger Dynamo or Shepherds Bush or Kodak (Harrow) or Larkspur Rovers or Indian Gymkhana Club or OIR or Stonewall